The Ksour Trail

A horseback ride in Tunisia between the desert and the southern djebels. In the rugged mountains of Djebel Dahar, Arabian-Barb horses take their riders along the Ksour trail. With their fortress-like structures, the Ksour or “desert castles" are the last bastions of Berber culture. The ride continues to the dunes and oases of the Grand Erg Oriental, the largest sand sea of the Sahara. A nomadic journey for desert lovers and adventurous equestrians.
Book now Print the details for this ride
Trail Riding
8 days / 6 days riding
From £1,030

Itinerary

Highlights

• Chance to see the ksour and desert oases.
• Long canters in the desert on Barb-Arab horses.
• Camping in tents for a true nomadic and desert experience.
  • Day 1 1: EUROPE - DJERBA - CHENINI OASIS - No riding

    Camping - Standard
    International flight from Europe to the island of Djerba (possibility to arrive in Monastir with an additional transfer fee). You'll be greeted at the airport and transferred to the Chenini Oasis, approximately a 2.5-hour drive. You will pass through the Matmata region, known for its troglodyte dwellings. Upon arrival at the camp site, you'll meet your guides and horses. Dinner followed by overnight camping in tents.
  • Day 2 2: CHENINI - DOUIRET - 4-5 hours riding

    Camping - Standard
    After your first Tunisian breakfast, you'll meet your horse and then ride out towards Chenini, one of the most beautiful troglodyte mountain villages in Tunisia. This village is known for housing the mosque of the seven giants, whose legend will be shared by your guide. You will then continue through the arid mountains of Chenini, stopping for a picnic along the way. After lunch, you'll head towards Douiret, passing through landscapes marked by troglodyte homes and numerous ksours - ancient Berber villages that now mostly stand as abandoned fortresses. Finally, you'll discover the ruins of the troglodyte village of Douiret, the last foothill before the Sahara. Dinner and camping overnight in tents.
  • Day 3 3: DOUIRET - GRAND ERG ORIENTAL - 6-7 hours riding

    Camping - Standard
    Today begins with a visit to the 800-year-old ruins of Douiret before riding through the foothills of the Dahar mountains, passing newly planted olive groves. Along the way, you will encounter herds of goats and camels that inhabit this arid region. After a final meal in this hilly landscape, your horses will tread on the first dunes of the Grand Erg Oriental. You'll meet the proud and welcoming Saharan people, and camp for the first night in the desert. Enjoy an aperitif and dinner under the stars, with traditional sand-baked bread prepared by the cook, baked in the sand and heated by embers.
  • Day 4 4: GRAND ERG ORIENTAL - KSAR GHILANE - 5-6 hours riding

    Camping - Standard
    Today’s ride takes you through the dunes of the Grand Erg Oriental, an immense sea of sand stretching 600 kilometres east to west and 200 kilometres north to south. Lunch will be enjoyed amidst the seemingly endless dunes. After some exhilarating canters, you will reach the lush oasis of Ksar Ghilane, where you can swim in the hot springs, said to have therapeutic properties. This oasis is home to about 50 nomadic families who make a living from date palm cultivation and goat herding. Your camp will be set up under the palm trees.
  • Day 5 5: KSAR GHILANE - 2 hours riding

    Camping - Standard
    Today is a shorter day on horseback. After riding to the remnants of a French Fort built on Roman ruins, you will return to the oasis for lunch. The afternoon is free for relaxation, with time to explore the oasis, meet the local inhabitants, and enjoy swimming in the hot springs or take a camel ride. Dinner and overnight in the oasis.
  • Day 6 6: KSAR GHILANE - GRAND ERG ORIENTAL - 5 hours riding

    Camping - Standard
    A morning ride through the stunning dune landscapes surrounding the Ksar Ghilane oasis. After lunch, you will head towards the Chemsa hot spring, with another opportunity to swim if time allows. There will also be plenty of opportunities for canters today. Dinner and overnight in the desert dunes.
  • Day 7 7: GRAND ERG ORIENTAL - BIR SOLTANE - DJERBA - 2-3 hours riding

    DAR BHAR HOTEL
    You'll enjoy your last canters through the dunes before lunch near the Bir Soltane spring. After lunch, you will say goodbye to your horses and begin the journey back to Djerba. After crossing the ferry back to Djerba Island, you will arrive in the charming town of Houmt-Souk. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
  • Day 8 8: DJERBA - EUROPE - No riding

    Depending on your flight schedule, the morning is free to stroll around Houmt-Souk, enjoy fresh orange juice in the Italian-style square, or take in the sea breeze at the fishing port. Transfer to Djerba airport (or Monastir Monastir with an additional transfer fee) for your return flight to Europe.

Dates & prices

Price details

• Flights and transportation to your destination (international/domestic) are not included, but can be booked on request - please contact us for rates.

• Normal pick up is from Djerba Airport, but transport can be arranged from other airports for an additional fee: Tunis €400/$440/£340, Enfidha €290/$320/£245 or Monastir €200/$220/£170 (per car, one way).

• The group consists of 4 to 8 riders maximum.

• Single tents are available at no extra charge, subject to availability. A single room is possible for the last night at the hotel for an additional €15/$17/£13 to be paid on-site.

• It is possible to organise the ride with accommodation in hotels instead of tents. An additional supplement of €690/$770/£580 per person for double occupancy or €880/$980/£735 for a single room is payable. Dinners and breakfasts will be taken at the hotel, separately from the rest of the group.

• The ride can be organised on a different departure date for a minimum of 4 riders.

• Children, accompanied by an adult, are welcome from age 12, provided they have the required riding skills.

• The weight limit for this ride is 80 kg. For those exceeding this weight, please contact us.
Please Note
The itinerary may be modified at anytime for security reasons, meteorological or events beyond our control such as blocked roads, rivers in flood, drought, strikes and local holidays. Equus Journeys, our local partners and their local guides will always strive to find the best solution and will alter the itinerary as needed.
The names of the hotels and accommodation are given for information only and depending on availability, they may be modified without notice and replaced by another of a similar standard.

Price includes

Support Team

1 English-speaking horse guide
1 groom

Logistics

1 cook
1 horse equipped with saddle and bridle per rider
1 vehicle and driver

Accommodation

Shared 2-man tents. If a single tent is required, please contact your travel advisor.
Double/twin/triple room in a hotel on departure

Meals

Full board from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 8

Extras

Camel ride on day 5

Price doesn't include

Meals

Lunch on day 1 and day 8 are not included depending on your arrival/departure time
Beverages (except during the trek) and personal extras

Accommodation

A single room is possible for the last night at the hotel for an additional fee

Transport

International flights

Extra

Tips to local team

Insurance

Cancellation and travel insurances are not included. Please note that insurance is mandatory. We recommend taking out an insurance policy as soon as your trip is booked in case of cancellation
  • Departure Return Price without flights Status
    26/10/2024 02/11/2024 £1,030 €1,185 $1,277
    Full
    Contact an advisor
  • Departure Return Price without flights Status
    08/02/2025 15/02/2025 £1,030 €1,185 $1,277
    Open
    Book now
    22/02/2025 01/03/2025 £1,030 €1,185 $1,277
    Open
    Book now
  • Departure Return Price without flights Status
    15/11/2025 22/11/2025 £1,030 €1,185 $1,277
    Open
    Book now
    27/12/2025 03/01/2026 £1,030 €1,185 $1,277
    Open
    Book now

Equestrian info

Horses

The riding centre has around 15 medium-sized Arabian-Barb horses (geldings and mares). You will be impressed by their endurance and excellent temperament. They are gentle, forward-going, well-balanced and well-trained.

Guide & local team

You will be accompanied by two guides certified by the Ministry of Agriculture and Tourism. They are also trained in first aid. They know the region and their horses perfectly. They speak Arabic, French and English.

Minimum riding ability

Minimum riding ability

You should be comfortable in walk, rising trot and canter on forward going horses, comfortable riding out in open spaces and able to keep your balance over varied and uneven ground. Some horses are more spirited than others, but all have excellent temperaments and are well-trained and balanced. There is a weight limit of 80kgs / 177lbs / 12st 9 for this ride.

Pace

Much of the ride will be at a walk, with trots and long canters whenever the terrain allows.

Tacking ability and participation

Each participant is expected to help with grooming, saddling, bridling, and unsaddling their own horse. Participation in camp duties is also required, including setting up and taking down the tents. You are also welcome to assist with the care of the horses, such as feeding and giving water.

Trip conditions and Requested experience

Trip conditions and requested experience:
You will need to be riding fit and comfortable spending several hours in the saddle.
Having previous experience of riding a trail for several days would be an advantage but it's not compulsory. Guests who do not ride regularly are requested to get back in the saddle before this trip.

Visiting a new country offers the opportunity to meet other cultures with different mentalities, therefore it is important to accept these differences and respect the local way of life.

Equestrian equipment

English trail or endurance saddles with saddlebags. Helmets are mandatory - please bring your own, as helmets are not available to rent.

Travel info

Comfort

You will stay in a two-person tent with mattresses and pillows, or a traditional woven Bedouin tent. There will also be a Caidal tent for logistics, along with a shower tent and a toilet tent. The final night will be spent in a 4-star hotel in in Djerba.

Meals

Breakfast will include bread, fruits and cereals. Lunch will be traditional Tunisian cuisine with salads, and you'll eat cooked dishes in the evening (meat, vegetables, and rice). Water is provided on the trail - please bring your own bottle to fill in the mornings.

Special diets can be accommodated, however please note that some foods can be difficult to find in Morocco. Certain diets may incur a supplement (gluten-free diets can be accommodated at a supplementary charge of €100/£90/$110 for instance). All dietary requirements must be specified at the time of booking.

Climate

The climate of Djerba is Mediterranean but tends to be semi-arid due to its location at the crossroads of Mediterranean and Saharan air masses. The annual average temperature is around 20°C, with monthly temperatures not exceeding 30°C or falling below 8°C.
In the Grand Erg Oriental and south of Douz:
From October to November and from February to April, temperatures are pleasant to warm, ranging from 35°C/20°C (October and April) to 25°C/8°C (November, February and March).
In the heart of winter, mornings and evenings are cool to cold (down to -5°C in late December). At midday, temperatures reach 18°C/20°C but drop fairly quickly in the evening.
In summer, it is very hot (around 45°C) and treks are not organised during this period.

Tips

It is customary to tip as a sign of appreciation. We would recommend €50-€60 for the whole team.

Packing list

Head
- Riding helmet: On this ride, helmets are mandatory. Some manufacturers now offer ventilated, sturdy and lightweight riding helmets suitable for all climates. There are also protective shells to wear under your hat or Western-style helmet hats.
- Cap or sun hat: For sun protection when not riding.
- Bandana, scarf, or neck wrap: To protect your neck or face from dust and sun.
- Sunglasses - with a cord attached so they don't fly off when riding
- Hat or balaclava in winter (December and January).

Upper body
-Thermal underwear (December and January)
- Long sleeved shirts provide protection from the sun and dust
- T-shirts
- Fleece or jumper (from November to mid-February)
• A warm jacket (waterproof and breathable) from December to mid-February. Waterproof wind-breaker the rest of the year.
- Casual clothes for the evening

Legs
- 2 pairs of riding breeches or long leather chaps.
- 1 spare pair of trousers (hiking trousers, jeans, or equivalent).
- Tights or equivalent (December to mid-February).
- A swimsuit may be useful (for swimming or bathing).
- Cotton or non-irritating synthetic underwear.

Feet and Hands
- Comfortable riding boots. We recommend short boots with half chaps as long chaps/long boots can get very hot.
- Sandals, flip-flops or trainers for moving around the camp and for the evening.
- Several pairs of socks.
- A pair of gloves: To protect from the sun, cold, and friction.

Horseback Essentials
- Soothing cream: Very useful for areas of skin irritated from long hours on horseback.
- Keep everything in your jacket or a waist pouch (not on your back): lip balm, sunscreen, passport, small camera, or mini waterproof camera, cords, sunglasses – easier access than saddlebags.
- Backpacks are not permitted when riding.

Sleeping
- Warm sleeping bag comfort rating 2°C/-5°C from October to November and February to April and a -5°C or -8°C sleeping bag for December and January.
- It is also recommended to use a silk sleeping bag liner for extra warmth.

Miscellaneous
- 60-80L travel bag, preferably a soft bag (front opening or backpack).
- 1.5L water bottle or equivalent.
- Headlamp with spare batteries and bulbs.
- Toiletries (including biodegradable wipes).
- Toilet paper and lighter to burn after use.
- Swiss army knife or equivalent (in checked luggage!).
- Small plastic bags for rubbish disposal.
- Earplugs: Useful for light sleepers in shared accommodation.
- 25-30L backpack.
- Camera (with a spare battery).

First Aid Kit
- For safety, list any medication allergies in your first aid kit.
- Personal medications.
- Broad-spectrum antibiotic.
- Aspirin or paracetamol.
- Anti-diarrhoeal medication.
- Rehydration sachets (dioralyte or similar)
- Spare prescription glasses/contact lenses
- Vitamin C.
- High-protection sunscreen for lips and skin.
- Eye drops.
- Moisturiser.
- Adhesive bandages.
- Elastic adhesive bandage (10 cm wide).
- Band-aids.
- Ready-to-use disinfectant wipes.
- Micropur or Hydroclonazone tablets to purify water.
- Insect repellent cream and spray.
- Blister plasters in case of any rubs.

General Information
- In case of lost documents, keep a copy of your passport in a separate location from the original.
- Bring bags for toxic waste (batteries, aerosols, ointment tubes, film packaging, etc.) to take home where recycling is well organised.